February 4th: Meagan is nearly 36 weeks! Her tummy measured 35 cm (only 1/2cm bigger than her last appointment 2 weeks ago). Her doctor started "checking" her today and she was 1cm but was not effaced at all; Meagan asked her Doctor to check again because by this time with the boys she was already 3-4cm and 50%. Meagan's doctor laughed and reassured her that the baby will come when she's ready (which is hopefully not moving day!)
February 11th: Meagan is now nearly 37 weeks, and at her appointment today she was 1-2cm and 50% effaced; but her tummy was still measuring 35cm (*GASP*)!! Since Meagan's tummy hasn't grown but 1/2cm in three weeks, she was sent for an ultrasound to check the size and health of the baby.
February 12th: At her ultrasound, the baby measured 30% for growth (which is normal, 10% or below is too small); the baby was fully developed, Meagan's fluid levels were excellent and the baby was still a girl (Meagan always has them check to make sure :) ) Here are some pics from the ultrasound...
during the entire ultrasound the baby had one foot in front of her face and the other pushing against Meagan's ribs...just letting the whole world know she's a girl :)
her foot pushing against Meagan's ribs
February 13th
Moving Day! We have to give a big shout-out to our Maricopa 7th ward Elder's Quorum for helping us load our truck so quickly! We'd also like to thank the Hedges and their extended family and friends who came to help us unload. We are so grateful for all the help we received! We wouldn't have survived without everyone's service! Thanks so much!
This is our new home. We love living in Ahwatukee! Meagan can go to the store, come home for lunch and go back out after the boys take naps and still be home by 4pm. We no longer have to endure a dreadful 6 hour day of errands! And even though we downsized, we are really enjoying the smaller house and are so happy.
February 18th:
Nearly 38 weeks and at her appointment today Meagan's tummy was measuring 35.5cm, so she only grew 1/2cm. Meagan was worried about the small measurements but her Doctor wasn't worried because we just had the ultrasound and the baby was healthy and fully developed. This visit Meagan's body is ripe and ready! She was 4cm and 70% effaced! Meagan's doctor told her to be careful since she was so effaced because labor would probably progress quickly, so if her braxton hicks become 7min apart (even if they aren't that painful) to go to the hospital, just to be safe. Our baby girl could be born any day now!
February 20th
We were a little worried about the timing of the move because Meagan was 37 weeks on moving day, but the timing couldn't have been more perfect! 7 days after our move we are unpacked and well settled into our new home. Meagan spent the week making freezer meals so Patrick wouldn't have to cook the first few weeks after delivery. Since Meagan spent all week cooking double meals she didn't feel like cooking so we went to Sweet Tomatoes. About the only thing we could get the boys to eat was chocolate ice cream and they really got into it!
After dinner Meagan decided to go to the hospital because she had been having contractions since lunch and they were getting closer together, now 7min apart. The contractions weren't painful but she followed the advice of her doctor and went to the hospital to make sure. After laying in the hospital bed for over an hour being monitored, her contractions slowed to ten minutes apart. And it turns out her contractions weren't real because she was only 4.5cm and still 70% effaced. Frustrated about having to lay in the hospital for an hour with no results Meagan went home and stopped counting contractions :)
February 25th
Nearly 39 weeks and still pregnant! Meagan had her 39 week visit this morning and she was still measuring 4.5cm and but was now 80% effaced. Her Doctor stripped her membranes, but Meagan didn't think it would work because she had her membranes stripped at 38 weeks with Anthony and he wasn't born for another 2 weeks. Her tummy was now measuring 26cm, but this is still too small so her Doctor set up an ultrasound for tomorrow to check the fluid and next week to check the size of the baby.
Meagan was still getting consistent contractions but as the day wore on the contractions were more intense. By 4pm Meagan's contractions were about 30 min apart. Hoping to speed up the process, Meagan decided to go to Target and Trader Joe's. When Meagan got to Trader Joe's she had a really intense contraction that was hard to talk through, and they were now 10 minutes apart. At 5:15pm when Meagan was leaving Trader Joe's, her contractions were 7 minutes apart. But Meagan (having had been sent home from the hospital the week before and not wanting her defrosted chicken in the fridge to go bad) went home and made Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo and waited until 6:30pm (to make sure the contractions weren't letting up) then called Patrick at work. By this time the contractions were hard to talk through and were ranging from 4-6minutes apart. Patrick said he was leaving and would come home to take her to the hospital, then drop off the boys at the Glenn's. 20 minutes later Patrick calls and tells Meagan he is just leaving work and to meet him at the hospital. Meagan was furious that she had been sitting at home, when she could have dropped the boys off her self and been close to the hospital already. Patrick assumes Meagan would just go to the hospital since her contractions were so close; but Meagan didn't want to sit at the hospital without Patrick, so instead of driving to the hospital she drove past the hospital to the Glenn's to drop the boys off then would head to the hospital. Poor Patrick had to wait helplessly at the front of the Maternity entrance hoping Meagan would make it and not have the baby in the car. Patrick called Jana Glenn and told her that Meagan was crazy and asked her to drive Meagan to the hospital because he was worried about Meagan driving during contractions. Thankfully Meagan agreed to let Jana drive her to the hospital where Patrick was anxiously waiting.
We walked into the maternity ward at 7:30pm. Knowing we were probably going to stay, we took one last picture of Meagan (since it had been almost a month). Meagan wasn't sure she would be able to smile through contractions, but Patrick said he'd never let her forget what she did to him tonight and it made Meagan laugh.
At 8:15pm they checked Meagan and she was 5.5cm and 90% effaced and announced we were staying to have our baby (YEAH!!). The nurses worked quickly as Patrick called the grandparents to tell them baby girl Lopez was on her way. At 8:30pm we were sent to Labor and delivery. At 8:40pm Meagan's epidural was in and by 8:50pm Meagan was 8cm! The epidural came just in time!
Since the Winter Olympics were going on, we turned on NBC and watched the woman's figure skating competion while labor progressed. At about 10pm it was time to getting to push. In just three pushes our little girl was born at 10:15pm! Labor was exactly 5 hours short! Everything went so well and almost seemed too easy.
The moment we've all been waiting for! What's her name?!?!?!
Ariana Arlene Lopez
born February 25, 2010 at 10:15pm
6lbs 8oz and 20" long
born February 25, 2010 at 10:15pm
6lbs 8oz and 20" long
right away she was so alert...
February 26th
When we reached post pardum the nurses there were delightful and funny. One even made Ariana a little hat and matching blanket
her head looks so tiny under the poofy hat
That night Patrick rescued the Glenn's from our boys and brought the boys to see baby sister and Meagan in the hospital...Adrian looked scared the entire time. He was even too scared to let Meagan hug him :) His expressions are priceless
Anthony, however, was really excited! Meagan asked him to smile but he roared instead
Adrian isn't quite sure what to make of baby sister; maybe he is just realizing that he is now the middle child
Anthony was intrigued with how small baby sister was and had a million questions
Those dimples melt our hearts!
Hmmmm......
Adrian is still trying to figure out what it is
Love his pointing finger
Anthony wanted to find all her body parts. He was concerned that she didn't have all her hands and feet
Anthony holding Ariana for the first time
Anthony kept saying "she's soft"
First Anthony found her hair (and of course gave it a rub)
then he discovered she didn't have teeth; so we explained her teeth were in her gums and when she gets bigger her teeth will grow. Anthony then stated that he had big teeth in his gums that would grow and make his baby teeth fall out, but baby sister didn't have big teeth in her gums yet :)
Next Anthony counted her toes (so cute!). He was fascinated with how small they were
February 27th
Time to go home and embrace the challenge of 3 kids. Grammie (Meagan's mom) flew in before checkout time and was able to come to the hospital.
Grammie was so excited to see Ariana
When we got home, Adrian wanted to look at Ariana again but she started crying
and he immediately asked mommy for "up!"
Grammie and Ariana
February 28th
Some pics of all three kids before bed
Adrian is venturing closer to baby sister, but won't touch her yet. We just love his expression
Though they are naked and half dressed, we managed to get all 3 in one picture!
taking it all in
Anthony gave Ariana finger sucking lessons
Ariana is a fast learner...she found her thumb in no time (sorry Hedges, looks like you won't be getting your thumb guard back anytime soon)!
then she found her finger, just like Anthony :)
March 2nd
Ariana is 5 days old. She had her first doctor's appointment and was 6lbs 9oz...1oz over birth weight! You go girl!
She also had her first bath at home
but we discovered that her hair dries really fast! It was dry before she was out of the towel!
Uncle Bradley put a short movie clip from "The Dark Knight" on Grammie's phone. Anthony figured out how to play the video and gave Grammie lessons on how to work the "Batman button" on her phone
March 3rd
Even with a baby sister, boys will be boys!
Ariana surrenders...please don't wrestle with me!
After taking several pictures Anthony requested Meagan take a picture of his "bump"
Jana Glenn came over today and brought literally boxes of clothes (Thank-you, Thank-you!)! In which Meagan and Grammie found the cutest swim suit and matching wrap.
Only 6 days old and already playing dress up!
Ariana is so feminine, even as a baby! She crosses her legs all the time, so cute!
She's even posing!
With Grammie in town, Anthony had some new hair to twirl, giving Meagan and Patrick a break.
We wanted to get a picture of Grammie and her 3 Lopez grandchildren, but this is as close as we got.
Meagan thinks Ariana's sad face is so cute so she tried to get a picture of it, but the pictures just look like awkward poses
Anthony is already protecting her
Don't worry, I'll protect you!
Patrick got home early from work and took the boys on a bike ride. Anthony thought he meant the 4-wheeler
and Adrian thought he meant the motorcycle
The boys look so precious with their big helmets in the bike stroller. Grammie got a kick out Adrian's bee helmet
March 4th
After watching Grammie clean the kitchen for the past week, Adrian though he would give it a try.
First he got wipe, then got it all wet under the sink
and then he cleaned his motorcycle
After being at Savannah Glenn's for a couple days, Anthony wanted to use the potty again (this has since worn off). Watching Anthony sit on the potty made Adrian curious. So Grammie sat him on the potty...he's not so sure what's supposed to happen
Ariana seemed so small we had to take a picture of her next to her stuffed animals
Natalie Roos gave Ariana a little tutu and Jayna Hedges gave Ariana some baby ballet shoes...Meagan couldn't wait to dress Ariana as a little ballerina
Usually every time Grammie comes to visit Meagan has a little project she wants help with. This time it was burp clothes. Kim Randall gave Meagan the prettiest burp clothes in which she had sewn material and ribbon. This inspired Meagan to do the same with clothes she already had. It only took 5 hours with 3 kids passing demands, but we decorated 7 clothes! Of course we had to support the broncos!
March 6th
Ariana had bath number two and is sporting her robe.
which is a tad large
Time for Grammie to head home to her own boys, but she couldn't leave without another photo shoot!
What progress! A week and a half ago Adrian was scared in the hospital, but now he wants to hold baby sister!
Our wild ones!
Adrian anxiously waiting another turn
Anthony double checking all her part are still there...
gums, no teeth...check!
10 fingers...check!
Everything's there!
Ariana wearing her first of many dresses
Our new family! The boys have had enough pictures and didn't want to sit still for one more
To close with a laugh, here are a couple funny things Anthony has said about baby sister:
1) Meagan was changing Ariana's diaper when Anthony come over and said most seriously: "Uh-Oh! Something's missing from her body!"
2) Anthony: "Does baby sister know how to drink from cups?"
Meagan (who's nursing Ariana): "No, she only knows how to drink mommie's milk"
Anthony: "Yeah. Baby Sister doesn't know how to drink from cups, but Baby Sister does know how to drink from bodies!"
5 comments:
Congratulations!! She is so cute. Glad the boys are adjusting well :)
Holy post! I love all the dresses and the tutu looks so cute on her! I'm so glad we got to meet her and I just think she is so darling! I love her hair. :0)
What a wonderful story! So happy I was a part of it - Miss you guys!
Oh my, what a cute bunch!!! That tutu is adorable on her! She is such a doll, can't wait to meet her!
Congrats! She is beautiful! We miss you guys!
Shara, Don and Kaitlyn
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